Police building draws focus at candidate forum

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Removing overlap of efforts could help the San Angelo Police Department meet some of its capital and financial needs, said Elizabeth Grindstaff, a candidate for the city council’s Single Member District 5 seat.

“If that occurs, you won’t have the complete burden on the city taxpayers,” she said. “ ... They’re doing great things with so little they have. It should be on the agenda if and when funds are available.”

During a past stint with the city of Abilene, Grindstaff was involved in talks when the city’s Police Department worked to partner with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. San Angelo police have been asking for a new police department building for some time. Collaborating with the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office is one way to share resources and reduce overlap, Grindstaff said.

Grindstaff was one of six candidates on the May 10 city ballot who addressed about 50 people at Tuesday’s Pachyderm Club meeting. Other local leaders, including Police Chief Tim Vasquez, Tom Green County Sheriff David Jones, Mayor Dwain Morrison and County Clerk Elizabeth “Liz” McGill also were at the event.

After a question about the city’s debt and tax base, candidates broke off into a discussion about the Police Department.

“We don’t have the money right now,” said Rodney Fleming, incumbent for the Single Member District 1 seat. “We’re having trouble getting them raises.”

Fleming was at a police meet-and-confer discussion just before the forum, and the issue was near the forefront of his mind.

His opponent, Trinidad Aguirre, said people can come up with “all the excuses in the world” not to justify funding a new Police Department building.

“It’s not a high enough priority,” he said. “It will be done at some cost.”

Bill Richardson, the third candidate for the SMD 1 seat, announced at the forum that he will not be campaigning for the position. The deadline to withdraw his name from the ballot, however, was March 5, so his name will still appear. Richardson endorsed Aguirre for the seat.

Johnny Silvas, incumbent for the SMD 3 seat, said the Police Department building is not the No. 1 priority for him.

“Water’s the top priority,” Silvas said. “And we need better streets for these police cars to drive on.”

The city needs to start by driving more economic development into San Angelo, he said, and moving forward in collaborating with the county and the school district.

Silvas’ opponent, Richard Bastardo Sr., said his answer to the city’s debt is common sense.